SF Police Arrest 'Prolific' Retail Theft Suspects

SAN FRANCISCO, CA —Five "prolific" theft suspects who police say stole tens of thousands of dollars in items across San Francisco businesses have been arrested, according to authorities.

Police say the suspects were responsible for four separate series of thefts within the last year at Walgreens, Safeway and multiple coffee shops in San Francisco.

Tyrese Boswell, 24, had the most cases linked back to them, according to the San Francisco Police Department, and is facing charges of burglary, grand theft, possession of stolen property and petty theft with prior convictions as a result.

Boswell stole from a Walgreens in the 1100 block of Columbus 18 times before being arrested on Christmas Eve 2025, police said. When he got out of jail, he began a week-long theft spree where he stole several times from another store in the 1300 block of Castro Street, police said.

Throughout his crime spree, Boswell stole nearly $40,000 worth of items, police said.

Faniel Rusher, 36, another repeat offender, according to police, was arrested on Oct. 19, 2025, after stealing from a Walgreens in the 1500 block of Polk Street.

Rusher was ordered by a judge to stay away from the store after his arrest, police said.

Later, investigators were able to gather enough probable cause to arrest Rusher for previous thefts, police said.

Darlene Gilbert, 35, and Jacqueline Michael, 33, were arrested in connection with 14 different thefts at a Safeway in San Francisco between January and April, police said.

They stole over $3,200 worth of items, including meat and seafood, police said.

Stanley Young, 38, meanwhile, was taken into custody in connection with a series of coffee shop thefts across San Francisco earlier this year, police said.

Despite being ordered by a judge to stay away from these shops, police say Young continued going back to steal more. His latest arrest came on March 31, police said.

Police say new California laws have allowed investigators and police to crack down on crimes like retail theft, including allowing prosecutors to add multiple petty thefts into a single felony charge if a suspect steals more than $950.

"The San Francisco Police Department Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Task Force is continuing its rigorous efforts to apprehend prolific retail theft suspects," police said. "ORC Task Force Investigators are maintaining robust partnerships with local retailers to effectively investigate these cases."